A cadre of over 6,000 to look after health of Hajis

The Ministry of Health has trained a cadre of more than 6,000 in 145 areas of health to serve the guests of Allah during Haj.
The training focused on the treatment of pilgrims affected by heat exhaustion and sunstroke, dealing with cases in emergency departments and critical care.
Topics like rapid intervention in critical situations for adults and the application of precautions against the spread of infections and diseases were also covered.
Training was also imparted in treatment of food-borne diseases, medical waste and maintaining of hygiene and sanitation in health facilities.
Besides these courses, around 60 programs were also conducted in e-learning among the Haj staff.
The Haj panel of the Ministry of Health has chalked out a comprehensive plan this year to intensify its awareness campaign among pilgrims through electronic channels.
According to Hussein Ghannam, general supervisor of the General Directorate of Health Affairs for Haj and Umrah, the awareness will be focused on a number of topics, including sunstrokes, MERS and chronic health diseases that are likely to be found among pilgrims.
Among pilgrims, diagnosed cases of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, migraine, epilepsy, skin diseases, psychiatric illnesses and gastric ulcer should be properly controlled with appropriate treatment.
It was also decided to form an emergency committee to focus on three demarcated areas such as the central region, center of the holy sites in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah and Makkah.
The ministry recruits more than 22,000 people from various medical, technical, administrative categories for the Haj season every year. The officials will include some 400 medics in rare medical disciplines including intensive care and breathing catheter.